Same Kid, Different Weapon

I got your name wrong, buddy. The cops did too on on your arrest sheet, not that that's an excuse.

Your name's "Darren," not "Darrell," although you were probably sorry I didn't get both your first and last name wrong in the piece about your mom not showing up in court after you were popped for carrying a gun to school.

My bad, Darren. Nobody's perfect. I'm far from it.

That said, let me tell you about another imperfection who grew up around your same neighborhood.

Park Hill is only a few blocks away from the Stapleton Houses. It's got the same gangs. Corner dealers sell crack and nickel and dime bags of weed, chronic, or whatever kids are calling pot these days.

Guns, too. Lots of guns are being carried by kids younger than your 14 years, some too young to spell the word.

Park Hill has the same temptations for too many kids as the Stapleton Houses.

But this kid didn't want any of that. This kid wanted to play ball. He went absolutely mad hot with a football in his hands.

Except, his parents didn't want him playing games. His parents wanted him to go to school.

They were teachers in Africa. They saw things over there that would make the toughest gang member you ever saw at the Stapleton Houses buckle at the knees and whimper like a beaten dog.

So, this kid's nose stayed stuck in his schoolbooks, away from gangs, guns and the daily special on the street corner.

Still, that passion for football wouldn't go away.

When he left IS 49 - yep, the same IS 49 you carried the gun into on the last day of classes a couple of weeks back - he wanted to go to the best high school he could find where he could study and play football.

Tottenville High School was a couple of trains and sometimes nearly two hours each way to get to.

But he could learn there. And he could play football. The train tracks to Tottenville led to a place far away from Park Hill's guns, Bloods and that hit of something that can make you stupid enough to shoot some stranger in the head over a couple of measly bucks.

College.

So, every day for four years, the kid traveled clear across the Island to school. He studied on the train. Some nights, especially after football practice, he didn't get home until 10 p.m. He had to wake up at 3 a.m. so he could shower, eat breakfast and make it to school by 7.

By his senior year, he was an honor roll student. He was also an all-city football player.

And you know what?

This kid from Park Hill wound up going to Indiana University on a full scholarship to play football.
At IU, he was an academic scholar.

But during his senior year, he blew out his knee, a kiss of death when it comes to a promising football career.

Now, as an academic scholar, he made sure to wind up with his share of job options. Good jobs, too. Potential careers.

But he wanted to play football. So he worked. And worked. And worked. He rehabbed his knee with enough sweat and blood to pour on a small country until he finally got a shot with a NFL football team.

By now, you're probably wondering, who is this kid?

His name is Adewale Ogunleye - Wale' for short.

Wale' was never drafted. He got his break after a tryout with the Miami Dolphins and wound up in the Pro Bowl.

Wale' now plays for the Chicago Bears - a millionaire star athlete who bucked the temptations of Park Hill with an incredible drive to succeed.

Darren, when Wale' was 14, he was just another kid growing up in a tough neighborhood trying to find a way out.

Just like you.

Wale' found his way out with the same books that are at your fingertips. All you have to do is ask.